Soap dissolving device



March 31, 1959 I m; FLOR 2,880,077

SOAP DISSOLVING DEVICE Filed D60. 8, 1955 3&1.

igfy. gamma-11 Flame United States Patent 7 This invention relates to devices for dissolving dry detergent material in flowing water, and refers more particularly'to'a device of the type comprising a vessel adapted to hold soap powder, small refuse soap pieces, or the like and having an apertured wall so that water from a faucet can be caused to flow through the vessel to dissolve soap therein.

It is an object of this invention to provide a soapsolut'ion dispenser of the character described, comprising a vessel for holding dry detergent material and through which water from a faucet is adapted to flow to dissolve material in the vessel, which device has means integral with the vessel for securing the same to a faucet spout in an operative position beneath the outlet thereof, and which also incorporates a splash deflector, likewise integral with the vessel and movable to and from an operative position in the top of the vessel.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a soap solution dispenser of the character described which is practically indestructible, which is extremely low in cost because all portions thereof can be molded as integral parts of a unitary structure, and which is adaptable to fit a variety of different faucets with which it may be used.

Still another object of this invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described comprising a cup-like soap vessel and a funnel like splash deflector which fits in the top of the vessel to guide water smoothly thereinto from a faucet, wherein the splash deflector is integral with the vessel but is nevertheless readily movable from an operative position in the top of the vessel to an inoperative position alongside the vessel, facilitating access to the interior of the vessel for filling and cleaning the same.

It is a further object of this invention to provide in a device of the character described unusually simple and inexpensive means for securing the same to a water faucet spout, which securement means is formed from the same material as the remainder of the device, integrally therewith, and is readily removably securable to faucets of diiferent shapes and sizes.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claim.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the soap dissolving device of this invention; and

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the same device attached to the spout of a water faucet,

Patented Mar. 31, 1959 Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 5 designates generally a soap solution dispenser embodying the principles of this invention and comprising, in general, a cup shaped vessel 6 adapted to contain soap powder or similar dry detergent material, a securement member 7 by means of which the device may be attached to the spout 8 of a water faucet, and a funnel-like splash deflector 9.

Preferably the entire device is molded as a one piece unit from flexible plastic, and is therefore simple and inexpensive to make and virtually unbreakable. The employment of flexible plastic facilitates attachment of the device to a faucet spout, as brought out hereinafter, and affords a further important advantage in that the device cannot scratch or mar a faucet spout to which it is attached, as might be the case with metal parts.

The cup shaped vessel preferably tapers slightly toward its bottom and has vertically elongated slit-like apertures 10 in its side wall 11, through which water from a faucet may emerge as soap solution. It will be understood that the apertures may he of any desired shape, so long as they are small enough to prevent free escape of dry detergent material but have suflicient combined area to permit fluid to flow out of the vessel as fast as it flows into the same. The apertures are shown in the present instance as elongated, downwardly tapering slits because this configuration adequately meets the requirements just mentioned, promotes a smooth outflow of soap solution, and attractively complements the shape of the vessel.

Extending upwardly from the side wall of the vessel, at one side thereof, is the elongated securement member 7. Its lower portion is rendered relatively rigid by stiffening flanges 12 extending along the side edges thereof, whereby the lower portion of the securement member is held upright relative to the vessel or, more accurately, the securement member holds the vessel upright when it is attached to a faucet. These flanges terminate about halfway out on the securement member so that the strap like free end portion thereof is quite supple. An aperture 13 in the free end portion of the securement member enables it to he slipped over the end of a faucet spout, as seen in Figure 2; and lengthwise extending slots 14 opening to opposite sides of the aperture permit flexing expansion of the end portion so that the aperture may be accommodated to faucet spouts of different sizes.

The securement member normally curves over the top of the vessel, and with the securement member in place on a faucet its free end is disposed below the spout, while the portion thereof between the aperture and the stiffening flanges overlies the top of the spout to support the vessel directly beneath the faucet outlet.

The integral splashdeflector 9 serves to guide water from a faucet smoothly into the vessel and to concentrate the force of the fluid stream upon the detergent material in the vessel to effect agitation thereof, while preventing water from splashing and spraying as it enters the vessel or rebounds upwardly along the side wall thereof. The splash deflector is a substantially frusto-conical funnel having a narrow rim portion 15 encircling its wide end and adapted to overlie the upper edge of the vessel when the splash deflector is in its operative position illustrated in Figure 2.

The splash deflector is connected with the vessel by means of a small, supple connecting strip 16, integral with both the vessel and the deflector and which is joined to the rim of the vessel at the side thereof opposite the securement member. To hold the splash guard in its operative position a pair of circumferentially extending ribs 17, 18 are provided at the junction of the securement member with the vessel, between which ribs the rim portion of the splash deflector is engageable. Norv mally the splash deflector is disposed to one side of the vessel, as shown in Figure l, where it permits ready access to the interior of the vessel to facilitate filling and cleaning of the same, but they supple ,connectionpermits the splash vdefiectorto be readilyswung to and from its operative positiontat which it engages between the ribs 17, 18 with substantially a detent action.

From the foregoing description taken together with the accompanying drawing it will be readily apparentthat this invention provides a ,soap dissolving device of the character described which is simple and inexpensive by reason of its being molded in one piece, and which is virtually indestructible .and incapable of scratching or marring plumbing fixtures, and which has thefurther advantage of being readily releasably secureable to the spout of almost any standard faucet.

What Iclaim as my invention is:

A device for dissolving dry detergent material inwater flowing out of a faucet, comprising: a cup shaped vessel formed from resiliently flexible material and having an apertured side wall; an integral elongated'straplike supporting member projecting upwardly from the side wall of the vessel, at one side thereof, the outer portion of said supporting member being supple and havingan aperture near its free end by which it may be engaged around '4 thetspnuttoflal faucet with a partof the se urementmember overlying the spout, and the portion of the securement member adjacent the top of the vessel having lengthwise extending integral reinforcements rendering said portion of the supporting member and its junction with the vessel relatively rigid to hold the vessel upright beneath the faucet outlet; a frusto-conical funnel-like splash deflector connected with the top of the side wall of the vessel by a;narrow strip of resiliently flexible material integral with the vessel and with the splash deflector, whereby the splash deflector may be swung to an operative-position overlying the top of the'vesseland to an inoperative position alongside the vessel; and an integral circumferentially extending rib on-the interior of the vessel side wall, near the upper edge thereof, remote from said narrow strip, cooperable with an edge portion of the splash deflector when the latter is in its operative position-toreleasably support the same in said position.

vReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 613,263 Gilmour Nov. 1, 1898 855,428 Bishop May 28, 1907 1,272,194 Bickerton July 9, 1918 2,641,506 Lowthers June 9, I953 

